Tucked away in your favorite neighborhood in lower Manhattan, you are likely to come across one of several locations of a restaurant called Westville, known for its warm, all-American atmosphere and famous for its menu of simply prepared, seasonal vegetables, intended to be combined into nourishing meals. My nearest Westville sits at the intersection of Bleeker and West 10th, a stone's throw from my apartment, in a space so inviting and small you have to hug the chefs on the way to the bathroom.

When The Fold's Executive Editor, Amanda, came to me with the idea for hosting a dinner to thank the brilliant women who had contributed to the site's naissance, my mind immediately turned to Westville as inspiration. I thought of a plant-based and gluten-free meal to celebrate the end of summer, including the last of its heavy-hanging heirloom fruits and veggies, and the birth of a new season.

Over a big pot of sprouted lemon quinoa, our guests could cozy up in the kitchen and craft their own bowl combos from a spectrum: sautéed mushrooms and kale, roasted butternut squash and artichoke hearts, and anything that was still sun-kissed or plucked from fall's first harvest.

When I later told a friend about the dinner, she said, "Oh, you made 'gratitude bowl.'" Bowls of gratitude – a perfect coincidence on every level.

The news cycle is fast and furious—which is why we shifted through the recent noise and found a few articles we believe matter. These thoughts and ideas made us pause, think and, most importantly, consider what is happening in the world. We hope they do the same for you.

Our new mindfulness expert, Vanessa Feils, equates finding your True Self to riding a bike: once you discover that sense of balance, you can always come back to it. Here's how to get there, with the help of an accessible meditation practice.